“Why bring him directly here?” Alpha sighed as she asked..

The moment the voice sounded, longing poured out. The young man’s eyes reddened as he hurriedly stepped into the inner room. He wanted to see her, he couldn’t wait a moment longer. He didn’t even care if there were others in the room, the scent of gardenia flowed out from the back of his neck.

But just as he crossed the threshold of the inner room, he heard the voice that he had been yearning for day and night say, “Stop him.”

The next moment, an arm blocked his way.

Feng Yao slightly bowed, lowering her eyes, and saying, “Forgive me, Your Majesty.”

The young man was stunned, his beautiful eyes full of disbelief.

[Why did you stop me …?]

[So, she came back early without telling me, not because she wanted to surprise me …]

“Miss Yao, you all may leave first. I want to speak with His Majesty alone.” Bai Su’s gentle voice came through.

Duan Changchuan looked toward the voice and realized the room was divided by a light gauze curtain. Bai Su seemed to be behind it. The light from the room only cast a vague silhouette behind the curtain.

Feng Yao stood hesitantly for a while before whispering to Duan Changchuan, “Your Majesty, please speak to the Empress from outside the curtain. Do not enter or touch the curtain.”

Then she and Yun Xie left the room together.

The door creaked shut …

Before it fully closed, Yun Xie’s puzzled voice could be heard asking, “What’s going on? The Empress has finally returned, why is there a curtain separating her? It’s like the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.”

But Feng Yao’s response could no longer be heard.

The room became quiet again.

Duan Changchuan looked at the wide curtain before him and hurriedly took a few steps forward.

He heard Alpha’s voice from inside, “Baby, what did Miss Feng Yao tell you? Did you forget?”

The young man halted his steps.

[Don’t enter the curtain …]

[And don’t touch the curtain …]

Bai Su sat behind the curtain, noticing the shadow in front of it had stopped. She softened her voice and said, “I just returned from Huainan and feared I might carry some germs. I didn’t dare meet you directly, so I informed Miss Feng Yao and planned to stay at the Astronomical Bureau for a few days before coming to find you after a week. I didn’t expect our Little Majesty to be so powerful. I had barely arrived in Shengjing, and you already received the news.”

“Did you come from the Ming Sheng Hall? It’s quite far, aren’t you tired? Sit down and rest first.”

Seeing he still didn’t move or speak, she asked helplessly, “Baby?”

Hearing a soft sniffle, the child called out to her, “Sister …” His voice was soft and full of grievance.

The sweet and soft scent of gardenia drifted through the gaps in the curtains.

“Baby, I’m here.” Bai Su coaxed him gently.

“I … I miss you very much …”

“… Sister misses you too.”

After that, neither of them spoke.

It seemed like there was a lot to say, but now that they were face to face, their minds went blank, and no words came out.

Duan Changchuan’s mind was filled with one thought: Can you hug me?

If only you could hug me.

“Baby, sit down first. Aren’t you tired of standing?” Seeing he still didn’t move, Bai Su spoke softly.

Only then did the young man move. He turned his head and dragged a chair over, and sat as close to the curtain as possible.

Then, he obediently rested his arms on his lower abdomen, eyes fixed on the curtain without blinking.

The other party noticed his movements and asked softly, “Is the baby alright? Has it been bothering my baby^[1]Duan Changchuan?”

Hearing the words “my baby”, Duan Changchuan’s face couldn’t help but blush slightly.

Then, he softly replied, “The baby is fine. He has always been very obedient. It’s just that the morning sickness has been a little heavy these few days, but fortunately … it’s not too troublesome.”

Speaking of this, he remembered the empty white porcelain bottles he had seen earlier, he worriedly asked, “Elder Huang said that you took a lot of blood for me before you left and weakened your body … Is your cough better now? Has your cold been treated?”

“I’m much better now. Elder Huang prepared many tonics for me before I left, and I drank them for a week. Even after going to Huainan, I continued taking them. Then Elder Sun checked my pulse before I left, and everything is fine. Don’t worry.”

“That day …” The young man hesitated.

He wanted to say, ‘I’m sorry for not noticing anything wrong with you …’

And I’m sorry for insisting on being stubborn and getting soaked in the rain…

But just as he began, Alpha interrupted him.

“I was very happy that day.” She said, “You finally remembered our wedding from our past life. You remembered me as your Alpha. I’m very happy. So, no matter what happens in the future, if you’re unhappy, you have to tell me. It’s better than keeping it to yourself, okay?”

Duan Changchuan nodded heavily, “Mm.”

“Thank you for leaving your pheromones for me. The baby is very healthy… and I’m also very healthy.”

“That’s good. Don’t worry, I’m an Alpha, my recovery is strong. A bit of blood is nothing. Besides, it’s for protecting my Omega, so it’s my duty.”

“I heard you’re leaving for the Mountain Villa tomorrow?”

“Yes, we’re going to the Mountain Villa tomorrow to avoid the summer heat.”

“Okay, be careful on the road. If you’re tired, have Chang Le order a stop. If you’re having morning sickness, just say it’s because of the summer heat. No one will doubt it.”

“Okay …”

“Eat well on the way too. Even if you crave sour things, don’t eat too much. Take care of your teeth.”

“Okay.”

Bai Su gave one instruction after another, and the young emperor listened obediently, but his mood remained low.

She was clearly beside him, but they could only talk through a curtain … Now even speaking seemed to be coming to an end. Thinking about this, Duan Changchuan couldn’t cheer up.

“Baby, what are you thinking about?” Bai Su noticed his mood and asked gently.

The young man shook his head, “Nothing …”

His sister had sacrificed a lot. He couldn’t let her worry anymore.

Besides, it was only seven days. Anyway, he had waited for more than a month. A few more days didn’t matter. Just bear with it and it will be over, right?

Duan Changchuan silently encouraged himself.

Suddenly, he heard a faint sigh from behind the curtain, “Originally, I shouldn’t have told you this … Actually, we have already made arrangements. I will follow your convoy. Feng Yao will find a carriage for me to follow the group. Once we arrive at the villa, she’ll arrange a courtyard for me. So, don’t be sad, alright? I’ll be with you the whole time.”

The young emperor’s eyes brightened immediately, and he couldn’t help but smile, “Then when night falls, I will come to find you. When at the villa, I won’t be busy. I can also stay in your room, talking, and reading.”

He heard a chuckle, “No, I can’t tell you where I am.”

“Why?” He asked reflexively.

Bai Su said, “You have a problem with sleepwalking. You’re rational when awake, but if you know where I am, what will I do if you come to find me? I can’t resist it if you crying for me to hold you.”

Duan Changchuan, “…”

His face turned red instantly.

“Who … who cries for you to hold … If you won’t tell, I’ll ask Yun Xie.”

“Pfft … This time, Yun Xie brought you here without telling Feng You. He’ll get a good scolding. With Feng Yao’s temper, she won’t let Yun Xie know anything next time. It’s useless to ask him. Besides, you did cry and ask me to hug you during sleepwalking. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Chang Le. Besides … why do you think you woke up on my bed every morning? Wasn’t it because you cried? A certain Omega couldn’t even open his eyes in the middle of the night, but his tears were still falling, and saying, ‘Sister, hug.’”

Duan Changchuan:???

No-nonsense!

“I would never say that!”

Sister, hug?

Impossible, never in this life.

[At most, I will only call her sister.]

But Alpha didn’t explain any further, just shifted her position leisurely, “Oh, you don’t believe me? Then next time, I will think of a way to let a certain little Omega see what it’s like when he asks for a hug.”

Duan Changchuan, “…”

“I won’t say that.”

Bai Su said, “Don’t be so sure, baby.”

“… Are you going to force me to say it?”

Alpha asked in return, “Can’t I?”

???

Why did that sound a little … strange?

Was it my imagination?